Director of rugby Dean Cutting is happy with the way things are shaping up as he continues to prepare his Barking side for the new National Two South season, writes Colin Munford.

Cutting has been forced to rebuild an almost completely new squad for the campaign and has had the players in training for the last month.

And he has been impressed with how the new players have adapted. “It is almost a new group of lads, but I have been pleased by the way things have been going at this early stage,” he said.

Spirit

“The team spirit already seems to be there and everybody is getting along fine.

“We aren’t desperately light in one position, but we are always looking to strengthen, and we have the bonus of a second and third team where players can keep up their match fitness.”

The Goresbrook outfit have four pre-season games arranged with a home tie against Esher on Saturday, August 11, and Brentwood’s first team visiting Gale Street three days later.

They then travel to Rosslyn Park on Friday, August 17 before a squad day on August 25.